Gallery

Comments

• 

  Betty February 13, 2015 at 7:54pm

  This is gorgeous and highly unusual, Frankie, but for an orthodox cross its rather, well "unorthodox" :-)

  I am afraid, I cannot really help with this; maybe one of our experts can... I am quite curious.
• 

  Peter Hoesli February 13, 2015 at 7:58pm

  Dear Frankie; Great piece - I love it. I would say that it is originating from continental Europe, maybe Germany. When looking at the design, you can see several crosses, which are not of Orthodox design. Could this be a sash for a belt? With kind regards. Peter
• 

  Frankie Carter February 13, 2015 at 8:12pm

  Betty and Peter, I have to own up and say that this does not actually belong to me. At least, not yet!

  Certainly the crosses displayed are not the more usual form of Russian cross, Peter. I have seen this type of cruder (for me quite interesting) craftsmanship on some smaller Bulgarian devotional items. But really I`m at a loss over this
• 

  Peter Hoesli February 13, 2015 at 8:22pm

  Dear Frankie; I herewith attach a photo of my belt, which was most probably manufactured in Holland. It is Day of Atonement belt and I have posted it before on this site. You can see the similarities of the workmanship between your cross and my pendant. I do not believe that this is coming from Bulgaria. I cannot remember having seen this workmanship in Bulgarian designs. But I have seen it in German and Dutch designs. It is somehow Baroque design. I personally love it - it looks rich and certainly old! I hope that this helps. With kind regards. Peter
• 

  Frankie Carter February 13, 2015 at 8:33pm

  The belt is lovely, Peter but I have to confess I`m not seeing the similarity in the work at all. The panels on the belt seem much more formal to me. I`ll try to find an example of the type of Bulgarian work I mean.
• 

  Frankie Carter February 13, 2015 at 10:53pm

  Peter, here is something more in line with what I meant:But actually it`s not quite like it either!
• 

  Peter Hoesli February 13, 2015 at 11:51pm

  Dear Frankie; Many thanks for posting the photo. In my opinion, the original cross which you have posted is Western European and not Eastern European Orthodox as the cross you have posted below. When you have a look at the leaves of the cross, they are almost identical with the ones on the belt. When continuing the research, check once also about "Hanau" silver. To me, your first cross would fit there. With kind regards. Peter
• 

  Frankie Carter February 14, 2015 at 12:36am

  Many thanks for your help Peter. Certainly the second cross I posted is Eastern.

  I do see an affinity between the baroque curlicues of Hanau silver work and those on my first cross. Up untill now the Hanau work I`ve seen has been more finely worked. However, looking further, it seems that this is not necessarily so and now I am persuaded by your argument that my first cross is western.

  I find it interesting that three arms of the cross are similar while the left lateral arm seems to depict a female figure bearing what might be a sceptre or maybe some sort of fertilty symbol. The top rondel may well be depicting a child.

  Once again, I do thank you for spending time to help me here.